Sunday, October 5, 2014

Calgary 6 Kootenay 4

From Chris Wahl ... http://www.kootenayice.net/article/ice-upended-by-hitmen-saturday
Radel Fazleev broke a 4-4 tie with 8:15 remaining in regulation time to help the Calgary Hitmen to a 6-4 victory over the Kootenay ICE Saturday.

The Hitmen were buoyed by a four-goal third period, and a four-point effort from forward Chase Lang, while Kootenay was led by a pair of power-play goals from Luke Philp.

Calgary opened the scoring on a man-advantage just before the six-minute mark of period one, as winger Kenton Helgesen recorded his first goal of the season off an offensive zone face-off.

The ICE battled back, though, finding an equalizer from first-year forward Vince Loschiavo at the 13:28 mark of the opening frame. It was the Winnipeg product's first career WHL goal.

Kootenay jumped in front 28 seconds later when Jaedon Descheneau, fresh off an overtime winner against Spokane Friday, pounced on a rebound in front of Hitmen goaltender Mack Shields to tuck home his second goal in as many days.

The ICE maintained their 2-1 lead until the midway mark of the second. After being granted a two-man advantage, head coach Ryan McGill elected to use his timeout.

The manoeuvre paid off, as Philp buried a pair of one-timer goals in a 1:22 span to chase Shields and put Kootenay ahead 4-1.

Connor Rankin completed the second-period scoring with 4:39 left on a rebound in front of ICE netminder Wyatt Hoflin.

Rankin added an assist at the 7:01 mark of the third period, helping out on an Adam Tambellini goal that caromed off a body in front of Hoflin's goal to cut the Kootenay lead to 4-3. Calgary leveled the score 2:18 later on another fortuitous bounce, striking on a short-handed effort from blueliner Ben Thomas that deflected in off a skate.

Fazleev gave the hosts the lead just after the midway point of the third period, snapping a wrist shot past Hoflin's stick side.

Lang then scored a goal 75 seconds later that was initially waved off, but upon video review it was determined the puck had crossed the goalline.

The ICE pressured Hitmen goaltender Evan Johnson with 13 third-period shots, but the rookie netminder did not surrender a goal in relief.

Hoflin made 33 saves in goal for Kootenay.

Philp recorded his fifth career two-goal game, while defenseman Tyler King chipped in with three assists. First-year defenseman Cale Fleury added a pair of helpers.

UP NEXT: The ICE begin a three-game swing in Saskatchewan Wednesday, October 8 with a matchup against the Regina Pats. Game time is 7:00 pm.